How Not To Fail – A Note On New Year’s Resolutions

Cue January 1st and the inevitable host of New Year’s resolutions. Number 1 on most people’s list will be to get healthier, fitter and leaner. If it’s on yours then here’s a few home truths you’d be well placed to know in advance:

You will get injured

You will get fatter

You will fail

Nonetheless, the fact that you’re reading this article shows that you do care about getting better in 2013. This already puts you ahead of Joe and Joanne Average. Read on and we’ll equip you with the particulars to give you an unfair advantage over the rest of the crowd.

How not to fail

Know it’s a lifestyle change

There aren’t any quick fixes when it comes to health, fitness or performance. You must merge training programmes and eating plans into your life as opposed to just adding them on. You must commit to being on track with these for 90% of the time and for a period of months rather than weeks.

Eat real food

If what you’re buying has an ingredients list, it’s not real food. Fresh meat and vegetables should be the pillars of your eating plan. Prepare and cook what goes into your mouth. Getting this right is far, far more important than supplementing yourself up to the eyeball.

Joining a Bootcamp seems to be the second easiest way to get yourself injured. The first is joining a Crossfit club. These new kids on the block means that taking up jogging moves now down to third. If you’re not 100% sure about what you’re doing then find someone to guide you. The same goes for diets too. You don’t need to know about intermittent fasting or carb backloading if you’re not eating properly in the first place.

Transition into your new life gradually

Be progressive with the new regimens you implement to reach your goals. Avoid making wholesale changes to your diet at once. Avoid drastic increases in the intensity, volume and frequency of your training.

Good luck to you if you’ve made a health and fitness resolution for the New Year. As long as you take heed of this advice and design your action plan sensibly, I have every faith that you’ll succeed!